Improvement in breech-loading fire-arms



M. V 1 IDAULT 5L-G. ELIEZE DIT LAGIEZE.

. IBreeh-Loading` Fire-Arm.

`No 68,786.4 Patented Sept. 10, 1867.

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2 shaw-sheet 2.

attra` tatsatmt titre.

MARTIAL PIDAULT AND GUILLAUME ELIEZE dit IiAGlEZE, 0F PARIS, FRANCE,ASSGNORC T() lll-lith/[SELVES ANI) J. F, GEVELOT, .Oll SAME PLACE.

Letter-s' Patent No. 08,786, JZ/fed ,S'fptembw' l0, 1867; `jmntaol inFrance, 'a'ptcmbvr 26, 1866.

@its dgrtnlc infant in in llgrsi triers jntnxt mit mating gaat at 11p5mm.

T0 ALL WHOM IT MAY GONCERN:

Be it hnonn that we MARTIAL PIDAULT and GUILLAUME ELIEZE dit LAGIEZE, ofParis, France, manufacturers, have invented Improvements inBreech-Loading Fire-Arms, and we do hereby declare that the following isa full, clear, and exact description` et' the same, reference being hadto the annexed sheets of drawing, making a part ofthe same.

Our improvements in breech-loading fire-arms will sum up all theadvantages resulting from the use of such arms; that is to say, ready,easy, manual exercise; regular, precise shooting; no trouble for eventhose who are little skilled in the carrying of arms.

Contrary-to what was done heretofore; the breech, or rather the chumber,is made to slide back, longitudinally, along the barrel, so 11s te leavebetween an open space for the cartridge being laid in. At the same timethe drawback of said chamber cocks up the arm, the cock being retainedin this position without its stroke down being accidentally possible solong as the arm4 is not ready to be used, or. so long as the cartridgeis not laid and perfectly fitted in the chamber. The rectilinearmobilizing of the chamber' is obtained by a manner of key or handlefitted in the sideof the st ocli. Inside the chamber is a socket formingthe abutment breech, which socket heilig stationary serves the purposeof a cartridge-drawer after the ring has taken place. The socket has abore in it to admit a rod, made itself mobilizable, together with thechamber or external shell, and terminating at one end in a point,filling the oiiice of hammer, to strike through thc centre of thecartridge, whilst the other end raises the cock and holds it up.

The combinations of the various parts of our improved arm is such as toallow a complete transforming of the actual muzzle-loading iire-armsinto breech-loading ones, which is effected by merely cutting oli' theback part ofthe barrel 'and substituting the movable chamber therefor.

'lhe central firing cartridge in so composed as to prevent all escape orleakage of the gas. The prime or cap in the centre of a compressedpastchoard block is covered over by a metallic shell which protects theWhole.

Figure 1 ot' the annexed drawings represents a partial outsidelongitudinal view of a War iirearm provided 'with our improvements.

Figure 2 shows a partial plan or under side vienof the same arm turnedin the opposite direction,

Figure 3 shows a partial longitudinal section of the arm, the chamberbeing drawn back, the 'cock raised and held in this position by thecentral rod.

Figure i shows a similar section, the chamber being closed; and

Figure 5 shows a transverse section through the line 1 2, iig. 3.

In all these figures the same letters ot' reference stand for the likeparts where they recur.

lThe barrel C of the gun, as r'epresentcd, is held fixed to the stock bythe usual rings, and its baci: end is provided with a projection, ff,entering the metal shell B, to which the whole mechanism is secured.This arrangement permits a ready taking to pieces of the gun, either forwashing or wiping it after a certain number of iirings. ',lhc tube orobturator Qi is so fitted as to be easily removed and replaced in caseof injury or `wear.

The shell B is hollowcd out cylindrical7 as shown in fig. 5, for thepurpose of receiving u movable or mobi lizable chamber A, made to slideon an inside socket, D, secured in the shelhplate [1. The shell B isformed with a projection, L', out of which is formed the screw V, onwhich works the key or handle E on the stock side, as shown. A groove,7', inY the inside face of the key, admits the projectingr pin a orportion of the movable chamber. The groote r is cut out of the form ofan are of circle, so that by moving the key in the direction of thearrow up to the position represented in iig. 3, it will pivot round thescrew or centre o', and carry along with it the chamber A, which isperfectly guided in its rectilinear progress by the stationary socket D.The shell B has at its bach part a iianch or groove, y, within which isset the cock G, the louer part of which, or the nut, is formed with twonotches, .fr x', the 'hind notch and the fore notch ofthe tumbler. A

'lhe cock is crested, or provided with a crest, which permits its beingraised or cocked, without it being necessary to move the chamber Ac llhe:nain-spring R determines the fall of the cock, and the spring R',placed beneath, serves to retain the same at half cock. The end of thisiat-ter spring isformed with a little incline, on which leans the end ofthe trigger II, the catch. of which is set within the trigger-guard asusual;

espec 2 Inside the socket D is placed the rod K, which is to movetogether with the chamber A. To this end the socket D is grooredlongitudinally at d, so as to give passage tothe screw Z, formed '1n thechamber A, and

having the samecourse as this. The head of the screw acts as guide insliding in and along a longitudinal groove formed in the lower part ofthc shell B. l

The screw passes through a longitudinal slot 7c', the object of whichwill be explained hereafter. The foro part ot' the rod K is formed witha point or needle, M, which strikes the cartridge and effects the firingof the gun. p

.When the socket D is i-n the position represented in fig. 3, the rod K,carried back byI the movable breech .or chamber A, has not only raisedthe cock G, but still holds it securely in this position, when the pointor needle M is withdrawn to the bottom of the socket.

After placing the cartridge as showninfig. 3, the key E is moved in thedirection of the arrow, so as to be covered exactly by the `ruobilizablcchamber A, as shown in section, fig. l. The concave -end of the socketD, and the likewise concave edge ofthe chamber are intended toconstantly bring the cartridge back to the centre, whatever may be theposition it occupies at first when laid therein. The rod c is thenbrought back'in such a manner that the hammer M be flush. with theedgeoi` the central socket D, its opposite end being somewhat beyond theplate Z1, the screw l then reaches the beginning ofthe slot c.

On the catch being acted upon, the trigger H depresses the spring R',and the cock is then beaten down bythe niainespring R. It strikes on theend ofthe rod K,`which is caused to move forward a certain distance andconsequently the hammer or point M is made to strike the cap in ythecartridge, whereby the powder is i nited. v

g The whole pressure xerted during the igniting of the powder isundergone by the stationary socket D, and also by the plate t, whichfills the oliiee of breech, whilst the external mobilizable chambenAonly undergoes the lateral pressure exerted at the periphery of `theycartridge.'

The cartridge, whose peculiar arrangement we' claim, consists of apasteboard socket, n, admitting at its end a block of the same substancestronglyfconipresscd ato, into which is embodied a mannerof bridge, onthe central part of which rests the cap or prime g'. 'A metallic shellcovers the whole over, thus preventing all leakage or escape of gas, thepercussion being effected at the centre ofthe cartridge.

The cylindrical portion of the ball or projectile being of somewhatlarger diametersay the sixtieth of an inch, than that of the socket C',produces on its passage through the latter an expansion, whereby isinsured the complete obturation between C and A. i

W'e will observe that although our improvements have been represented asapplicable to a single-barrelled musket or war gun, they may likewise beadapted to double-barrelled shooting and other guns, whatever may betheir size and dimensions..

Claims.

1. The combination and arrangement of the stationary socket D, slidingchamber A, with pin a, and the hinged lever E, substantially asdescribed for the purpose specified.

'2. The stationary tubebr socket D arranged within the sliding chamberA, to serve asa breech-piece, subV stantially as herein shown anddescribed.

3. The combination ofthe hammer G with the catch H on the trigger, andwith the springs R and R', all

made and operating substantially' as herein shown and described.

4. The combination and arrangement of the slotted sliding-rod K, pin l,socket D, and sliding chamber A,

substantially as described for the purpose specified.

PIDAULT, ELIEZE dit LAGIEZIE.

Witnesses DEMOS, A. Guion.

